5'4", 125 lbs. - What type of tummy tuck will be best? (Photo)

Hi there, thanks for question. According to your pictures, my suggestion would be full tummy tuck, muscle repair and waist liposuction. Actually Fdl more suitable for massive weight loss patients. It seems like you don’t have significant excess skin vertically. So in my opinion you don’t need Fdl procedure.

A physical examination would be helpful, but your photos suggest that the traditional tummy tuck would be adequate. Any potential benefit from the FDL would be outweighed by the less desirable vertical scar.

Traditional tummy tuck with liposuction (no vertical incision) should give best results.

Further consultations with your/a plastic surgeon is recommended until you feel comfortable.

It does not look like you need a vertical scar from your picture. Extending your scar around to the back will give you better waist definition. Good Luck!

Thank you for your inquiry! You have excess abdominal skin and separation of your diastasis recti muscle making you a great candidate for an abdominoplasty procedure. A low horizontal incision would be best to remove that excess skin. We would love to see you in person and help you reach your goals. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon like myself and we can create a surgical plan for you!

The fleur de lis technique is used when there is a lot of horizontal width above the umbilicus. You do not appear to be that wide. Since you have lost 80 lbs. you may need a breast lift. The breast lift technique I recommend is The Bellesoma Method. This technique lifts the upper abdomen as well as the breasts and will eliminate the need for the fleur de lis. This technique will also reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained. I always do the breasts first because if you do the abdomen first it will pull the breasts lower. In terms of your abdomen, you will need a tummy tuck and may need an extension of the tummy tuck laterally or lateral liposuction. The breast lift and tummy tuck can be done together, if desired.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

From your photographs, and with no physical exam, I think you should consider staying far away from any thought of a fleur-de-lis and have a regular tummy tuck with liposuction of the abdominal wall and maybe back and have muscle tightening degree that you might need. Good luck!

Based on your photos, I feel that you would have an excellent result with a traditional tummy tuck alone. That being said, depending on your exam and the amount of pinchable skin in the midline, you may have a little residual looseness after surgery in that ‘right-left’ vector. Patients still typically prefer that over having the tightest closure possible with the additional vertical scar. The Fleur de Lis vertical component can always be added in at a secondary surgery should you need it. That being said, I have done traditional tummy tucks on patients with much more midline looseness than you have, and they have all been happy and none of them have wanted the vertical incision to further tighten things after surgery!

Recommends a full tummy tuck, which includes a full lipectomy, umbilical translocation, tightening of the abdominal muscle wall, and liposuction of the waist area.

Hello dear. Given your history of pregnancies, cesarean sections, and weight gain, a tummy tuck with muscle repair and liposuction is an excellent option to improve your abdominal contour. The vertical incision (fleur-de-lis technique) is only necessary if there is significant vertical excess skin. In your case, the traditional technique, which leaves a less visible scar, is probably sufficient. With this surgery, you can expect excellent results, both aesthetically and functionally. You can contact us at 829-554-6062 for a more detailed evaluation and to begin scheduling your surgery.